Official Foreword from BRNC
Jolyon Woodard, Captain Royal Navy, Captain Britannia Royal Naval College
What an honour! I doubt the Stoke Fleming nursery staff of 1973 would have given odds on this ‘naughty little 4-year old’ being asked to write the Foreword for the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta programme some 44 years later. It just goes to show that anything’s possible.
While my own links with this most special town go back over four decades, that’s of course nothing compared to the proud links between the community and the Royal Navy. Those go back at least to 1863, when HMS BRITANNIA arrived here on the Dart to commence officer training. Selected primarily for its natural maritime attributes, the decision to re-locate the training to Dartmouth was based also on there being fewer ‘distractions’ for the young cadets than in Plymouth or Portsmouth. I am delighted to say that Dartmouth continues to offer an excellent maritime backdrop and with the ‘distractions’ being in the guise of good training evolutions such as Regattas, parades and community support, BRNC will continue to serve as the ‘cradle of Naval training’ for many years to come.
The College that you see on the hillside before you has been operating since 1905. Visually little has changed. Neither has the fundamental purpose; to develop courageous leaders with the spirit, grit and determination to fight and win. However, the span of responsibility has evolved. Today’s ‘core’ training includes the Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as integral parts of the RN family. The College is home to the RN Leadership Academy HQ, which delivers through-career training for the entire Naval Service from three sites. BRNC also parents the 15 University RN Units across the British Isles. And the international dimension continues to grow – in the past two years we’ve trained cadets from over 25 navies. BRNC (and Dartmouth) most certainly remains the beating heart for Naval training and is directly linked to the RN’s strategic purpose.
None of this would be possible without the support of the local community. Few establishments can boast such a positive partnership with the people of their local town. This is largely down to what we have in common. We rely on the sea for our prosperity and hold a mutual deep respect for its power. Many local people contribute directly to college life, whether as civilian staff or members of College associations. Equally, many serving and ex-serving members of the Naval Service choose to make Dartmouth their home. We continue to enjoy a truly symbiotic relationship.
The Regatta remains a highlight in the College calendar. BRNC is incredibly proud to be supporting the 173rd Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta through the provision of our Motor Whalers, Picket Boats, cadets and staff. You will see them marshalling events on the river and helping in various guises ashore. Some will even be competing. Please talk to any of them. Despite many having just 15 weeks of Royal Navy training behind them, you will find them professional, proud and brimming with enthusiasm, as well they should be.
The Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta is one of the biggest and best in the UK and one that the townspeople of Dartmouth are justly proud of. I wish all those connected with the event, and the many visitors, a successful, memorable and enjoyable Regatta.
Jolyon Woodard
Captain Royal Navy
Captain Britannia Royal Naval College
While my own links with this most special town go back over four decades, that’s of course nothing compared to the proud links between the community and the Royal Navy. Those go back at least to 1863, when HMS BRITANNIA arrived here on the Dart to commence officer training. Selected primarily for its natural maritime attributes, the decision to re-locate the training to Dartmouth was based also on there being fewer ‘distractions’ for the young cadets than in Plymouth or Portsmouth. I am delighted to say that Dartmouth continues to offer an excellent maritime backdrop and with the ‘distractions’ being in the guise of good training evolutions such as Regattas, parades and community support, BRNC will continue to serve as the ‘cradle of Naval training’ for many years to come.
The College that you see on the hillside before you has been operating since 1905. Visually little has changed. Neither has the fundamental purpose; to develop courageous leaders with the spirit, grit and determination to fight and win. However, the span of responsibility has evolved. Today’s ‘core’ training includes the Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as integral parts of the RN family. The College is home to the RN Leadership Academy HQ, which delivers through-career training for the entire Naval Service from three sites. BRNC also parents the 15 University RN Units across the British Isles. And the international dimension continues to grow – in the past two years we’ve trained cadets from over 25 navies. BRNC (and Dartmouth) most certainly remains the beating heart for Naval training and is directly linked to the RN’s strategic purpose.
None of this would be possible without the support of the local community. Few establishments can boast such a positive partnership with the people of their local town. This is largely down to what we have in common. We rely on the sea for our prosperity and hold a mutual deep respect for its power. Many local people contribute directly to college life, whether as civilian staff or members of College associations. Equally, many serving and ex-serving members of the Naval Service choose to make Dartmouth their home. We continue to enjoy a truly symbiotic relationship.
The Regatta remains a highlight in the College calendar. BRNC is incredibly proud to be supporting the 173rd Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta through the provision of our Motor Whalers, Picket Boats, cadets and staff. You will see them marshalling events on the river and helping in various guises ashore. Some will even be competing. Please talk to any of them. Despite many having just 15 weeks of Royal Navy training behind them, you will find them professional, proud and brimming with enthusiasm, as well they should be.
The Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta is one of the biggest and best in the UK and one that the townspeople of Dartmouth are justly proud of. I wish all those connected with the event, and the many visitors, a successful, memorable and enjoyable Regatta.
Jolyon Woodard
Captain Royal Navy
Captain Britannia Royal Naval College
